Tech's QBs won't abide controversy

If you're looking for the seeds of a quarterback controversy on the Texas Tech campus, you'll have to look beyond the two principals.

Both Matt Tittle and Rob Peters, who shared quarterback duties in last week's 31-24 defeat of Iowa State, will see action today in a 6 p.m. Big 12 Conference matchup with Baylor at Jones Stadium.

Tittle has started the past three games since Peters suffered shoulder and thumb injuries in the season opener. Tech coaches declined to name a starter during the week, but it doesn't seem to matter much to either Peters or Tittle.

''I don't think it's a controversy at all,'' said Tittle, who has thrown for 743 yards with five touchdowns and five interceptions in his first significant playing time since 1994 at Flower Mound Marcus. ''It's just that we have two quarterbacks who can move the football team and win football games.

''We both do different things. Rob is a better runner than me so we can take advantage of different things with him in there. Up to now, I've had a lot of playing time. It's just matter of him getting out there and getting comfortable again. I'm sure he'll be able to do that.''

Peters has waited in the wings for the past two seasons and then opened his career as a starter by getting hurt in the first offensive series against Texas-El Paso. He was out for the next two games and made his return last week against the Cyclones, coming off the bench to complete four of five passes for 28 yards.

Given that he's already waited so long for his chance, it would be easy for Peters to become frustrated over the current situation. But, like his close friend Tittle, he's handled it graciously and selflessly.

''The only people who will make it a controversy are the media,'' Peters said. ''He's going to go out there and do the best he can, and I'll do the same. If we've got two guys out there playing a lot, that's just an advantage for us.

''Me and Matt are great friends on and off the field. That helps a lot. We could be at each other's throat, hoping the other guy does bad. That's not going to happen in this case. We've both been around here for a long time. When he's in there, I hope the best for him because it's a team game, not an individual game.''

The most likely scenario seems to be that Tittle, a fifth-year senior, will start today but that the two will divide the offensive snaps somewhere close to the middle.

''The good thing is we can win with either one of those kids,'' offensive coordinator Rick Dykes said. ''They both have a grasp of the offense, and they've both practiced well this week. We'll make the decision (on a starter) late in the week. They're both going to play, and they both know that. It doesn't really matter to those guys who starts. We'll name a starter and go on from there. It's not any big deal.''

The Bears (1-2 overall, 0-1 Big 12), oddly enough, have a quarterback controversy of their own brewing.

The once highly touted Odell James opened the season as the starter but left last week's 18-16 loss to Colorado with bruised ribs. He was replaced by Jermaine Alfred, who completed nine of 16 passes and had the Bears on top 16-15 until Jeremy Aldrich booted a 31-yard field goal with two minutes remaining.

For the season, James is 16-of-37 for 170 yards with three interceptions and no touchdowns. His efficiency rating of 65.6 doesn't crack the top 12 in the Big 12. Alfred's combined numbers in two games are 12-of-21 for 113 yards with one interception and no touchdowns.

''Right now, Odell is our quarterback,'' Baylor head coach Dave Roberts said. ''We played Jermaine on Saturday, and we may do it again this Saturday. Odell is the quarterback, and he'll kick it in. That's how we started, and that's how we'll leave it. Jermaine may play, but that's where we are.''

Regardless of who is at the controls, the Bears almost certainly will first seek to get their rushing game going against the unbeaten Raiders (4-0, 1-0). Baylor's passing attack is 11th in the conference and 106th in the country (better than only six Division I teams) with an average of 94.3 yards per game. The Bears have been more productive on the ground, averaging 163.7 yards per game, ninth in the Big 12 and 52nd in the country.

Tailback Darrell Bush has rushed for a team-high 132 yards on 43 tries, and fullback Derek Lagway who had a highlight reel 27-yard touchdown run with half of the North Carolina State defense on his back is next with 120 yards on 25 attempts. All six of the Bears' offensive touchdowns have come via the rush.

That, however, could play right into the Raiders' hands. Tech's defense has yielded an average of 70.3 rushing yards per game, second in the Big 12 and sixth in the country. The pass defense, though, has been a bit more porous. The Raiders are sixth in the league and 47th overall with a pass defense efficiency rating of 110.9. Tech's past two opponents have put up a combined 579 yards through the air.

''They're a running team,'' Tech cornerback Darwin Brown said. ''They like to run the ball. It's going to be a good contest because our defense likes to stop the run. Somebody is going to have to give somewhere down the line, and I don't see the 'Swarm' defense giving up anytime soon.''